On March 23, the San Jose Black Berets por la Justicia organized a walk through the city of San Jose, in unity and prayer for the love of the community. The walk began at Lincoln High School, site of the first Barrios Unidos conference, with a sunrise ceremony.

The Walk for Peace is a spiritual peace walk continuing the Black Berets' four directions ceremonies, and there were four stops/ceremonies in San Jose. The first was at juvenile hall, then on to Backdesto Park, Plata Arroyo Park, with the final ceremony being held at Mexican Heritage Plaza. The events are organized twice a year, and the idea is to walk in a good way to honor, and hopefully bring some peace, to those that have died through colonization and all of the resulting traumas that afflict the community, including gang violence, alcoholism, violence against women, and more.

"We believe in the power of the people to create positive and lasting change. This is why we call for unity and dialog against violence across all nationalities and cultures," The Black Berets said in a press release for the walk.

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Supporters of the Idle No More movement participated in a round dance during the final day of the Azteca Mexica New Year Ceremony and Celebration on March 17 at Emma Prusch Park in San Jose. "We have been using these round dances to call attention to our Earth, and to call for fighting the corporations, fighting our government, and to protect this Earth as indigenous people," Lakota Harden said to the group before the round dance began.

The theme of this year's Azteca Mexica New Year Celebration was Ce Calli, or "One House". Organizers of the Idle No More round dance noted in their event announcement that, "The Prophecy of the 'Eagle and Condor' is only becoming stronger."

"There is another way. We have lived another way for thousands of years, in harmony with our Mother Earth and all living things, and we do not need to destroy them to survive," speaker Paul Flores said before the round dance began.

Read More with Photos and Videos | Idle No More

As he begins his 37th year of wrongful imprisonment, Native American leader and activist Leonard Peltier will be honored on Tuesday, June 26th with singing and drumming on Ohlone land at Theodore Lenzen Park in San Jose. Community members will discuss what can be done to secure Peltier's release from prison.

Drumming and singing will be provided by Wicapiluta (Luta) Candelaria, with other Black Berets, and will be followed by updates about Peltier, calls to action, a potluck, and then a screening of "Warrior: The Life of Leonard Peltier," a film by Suzie Baer.

The event is sponsored by the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee (LPDOC) chapter of Silicon Valley and endorsed by the Black Berets por la Justicia (San Jose, CA).

Read More Event Details

See Also: Incident at Oglala (1992) || Solidarity Statement for Mumia from Leonard Peltier || Sep. 2008 Update || Attack on Leonard Peltier Protested at SF Federal Building || July 2009 Update || Artwork by Leonard Peltier || Radio Interview With Susan Morales || Audio from 2011 Rally in Tacoma, WA

Protests that began on the plaza at San Jose City Hall on October 2nd continue around the clock. The San Jose Police Department has issued many arrests and citations in the middle of the night, mostly for illegal camping. After the first raid on October 21st, when 8 people were arrested and one cited, protesters returned to City Hall to rebuild camp immediately upon their release from jail.

On October 24th, a protester climbed atop a wall estimated to be 36 feet high and five feet wide to protest the continuing police raids. As of November 16th he remains on his perch, despite rain and cold..

On October 25th a contingent of occupiers attended the San Jose City Council meeting and presented a letter demanding that the rights of the occupiers be respected by police. They called on City Manager Debra Figone to retract false accusations that the protesters have conducted themselves in an uncivil manner.

Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Video: 1 | 2 | Occupy San Jose

In San Francisco, members of UNITE HERE Local 2 and their supporters in the labor movement marched on Labor Day, September 5th, to draw attention to Local 2's ongoing struggle with the Hyatt Regency and Grand Hyatt. The march began at Union Square and proceeded to Hotel Frank on Geary, then on to the Grand Hyatt on Stockton Street. Local labor turned out in solidarity with UNITE HERE Local 2's struggle to obtain a fair contract with Hyatt. Some of the many unions that came were The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), The Teamsters, The American Federation of Teachers, and the Labor Studies program at S.F. State University.

Similarly in Santa Clara, hotel service workers of the union UNITE HERE Local 19 marked Labor Day by picketing the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, which has been the target of a boycott campaign launched by the union six months ago. Hyatt workers, who have been without a contract with the hotel, have been demanding recognition of the union through a card-check/neutrality agreement.

San Francisco: Photos 1 | 2
Santa Clara: Read More

Demonstrations have been held at circuses in the Bay Area and Central Valley since 1988. Animal liberation activists have had to fight in the courts after wrongful arrests outside of circus venues while they were educating those who would patronize the circuses and documenting the treatment of elephants and other circus animals. The numbers of protesters at local circuses have grown over the years, with nearly 300 demonstrating at the Oakland Arena last year.

On August 17th, opening night of the 2011 Ringling Brothers Circus in San Jose, nearly a hundred activists gathered to protest and to inform circus-goers about the cruelty involved when wild animals are forced to live in small cages and perform for audiences across the country. Ringling Brothers has a history of maltreating the animals under its care, from physically abusing them as part of their training to failing to adequately meet basic medical needs. At least one human family was seen rethinking their decision to attend the circus and left shortly after having received educational materials from demonstrators. Thousands of handbills and pamphlets were distributed, giving attendees a lot to think about before they ever possibly return to the circus.

Animal activists encourage others to help keep the heat on Ringling and its parent company, Feld Entertainment, to drop the use of animals in their live shows. Demonstrations are planned for Ringling Brothers appearances in San Francisco and Oakland from September 1st through 11th. Ringling Bros will be stopping in Sacramento later in the month.

Photos & SF/Oakland Schedule | Video

Previous Related Indybay Features from 2005: Bay Area Protests Against Ringling Bros Circus | Fresno Animal Activists Defy Arrests/Intimidation

The Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SLIC) drew people from up and down the West Coast to its second annual Disability Parade and Festival in San José on July 23rd. Several hundred parade participants walked and rolled down N. First St. on Saturday morning, many with signs decrying proposed government budget cuts to social services.

In the afternoon bellydancers, breakdancers, and inspirational speakers enchanted the audience. Festival attendees wore purple t-shirts with the slogan "Disabled and Proud".

SLIC has offices in both San José and Gilroy. The non-profit group provides clients with referral services for care, and works to improve the laws, policies, and regulations that affect the day-to-day lives of people with disabilities. With Congress debating cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits, the fate of Medicaid was on everyone's minds at the festival. SLIC organizers said that cuts to Medicaid will only shift costs to states and transfer the burden to people with disabilities and seniors who depend on the program for long-term services and supports.

Photos: 1 | 2 | Video | Silicon Valley Independent Living Center